ABSTRACT
There is a strong connection between culture and spatial conception, which contributes to the creation and formation of different sequences and arrangements of space and buildings, and the generation of varying spatial experiences in cities. The basic argument is that China and Japan share similar areal thinking, which represents one of the core values of Eastern culture. The traditional spatial concepts of China and Japan serve to reinforce Shelton's notion of ‘areal thinking’ in these related Eastern cultures: they are both multi-dimensional and multi-directional. In Japan, the floor-oriented spatial conception allows asymmetrical spatial organization to be possible and pervasive in its cities. Centrality and symmetry are strongly favoured by the Chinese and widely used in the design of buildings and cities, while the Japanese mastered asymmetry, which has infiltrated into almost every aspect of their lives.
